by Christine Lyn Viajante
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Feb. 14) β Following a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) report indicating a potential encroachment by a commercial fishing boat in municipal waters, BFAR-10βs fishery law enforcement officers immediately launched a seaborne patrol in Macajalar Bay.
Patrol units swiftly responded to verify the report and monitor any illegal fishing activities in the area but to no avail of barging commercial vessels.
It was later found out that the tracked commercial fishing vessel wasnβt from the region.
βThis seaborne enforcement measure is essential in curbing illegal fishing practices and protecting the livelihoods of our small-scale and subsistence fishers,β Team leader, Junrey L Salinas stated.
After the four-hour operation, the enforcement team ensured that no commercial fishing vessels were operating within the 15-kilometer municipal fishing zone, which is exclusive for artisanal and small-scale fishers.
Salinas added that through active monitoring and stakeholder engagement, BFAR-10βs Enforcement and Regional Monitoring Control and Surveillance Operations Center (ERMCSOC) can further strengthen its operation in catching violators engaged in destructive or unauthorized fishing practices.
BFAR-10 continues to underpin its enforcement strategies to uphold responsible fishing and guarantee the long-term sustainability of marine resources in Northern Mindanao. (CLViajante//BFAR-10)
